Croydon to consider plans for CCTV upgrade

Croydon’s cabinet members are recommended to approve £1M plans to improve the borough’s CCTV network.

The plans, which go before cabinet next Monday (21 October), seek to help the Safer Croydon Partnership achieve its goals – to help tackle crime and antisocial behaviour and to improve public confidence.

The council aims to replace its current analogue system with a new digital network. Cabinet approved £1m part funding from its capital programme in 2018, but a further £1M is required for the modernisation to go ahead.

This is the first time the council has upgraded its entire public CCTV network since the 1990s.

The CCTV control room currently monitors 96 fixed and 10 mobile cameras that cover the borough’s main routes and high footfall areas 24 hours a day.

The cameras are placed in locations where there are high levels of crime, including Croydon town centre and East and West Croydon transport hubs. Offences monitored including theft, robbery and drug related crime.

From April 2018 to March 2019 the service monitored over 660 incidents and supplied evidence for 598 police investigations.

Councillor Hamida Ali, cabinet member for safer Croydon and communities

“We want to make sure that everyone feels safe in their street, neighbourhood and community. Replacing CCTV across the borough with the latest technology will help ensure the wellbeing of all of us who live, work and visit Croydon.

The CCTV plans follow a six-week consultation with partners, businesses, residents and visitors.

Of the 152 respondents, 88% agreed CCTV cameras deter crime and help deter criminal offences, 80% agreed that the cameras helped to reduce the fear of crime and 90% agreed that CCTV should be deployed at violence crime hotspots.